Allgäu Alps West

Increased avalanche danger due to fresh snow, wind, rainfall

Increased avalanche danger due to fresh snow, wind, rainfall

As a result of fresh snowfall and wind, fresh snowdrift accumulations require high attentiveness with increasing altitude, particularly in steep ridgeline terrain, in wind-loaded gullies and bowls, behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain. Size and spread of the drifts increase with ascending altitude. Also, above 2200 m particularly on steep shady slopes, unfavourable layers in the old snowpack are evident. Small-to-medium, isolated also large-sized slabs can be triggered even by one single winter sports enthusiast. Also naturally triggered avalanches are possible on steep shady slopes. These can sweep away the entire snowpack and grow to large size. In zones where there has been rain impact at low and intermediate altitude in all aspects, wet slides and small-to-medium avalanches can trigger from starting zones which have not yet discharged, isolated large-sized avalanches, as well as small glide-snow avalanches on steep grass-covered slopes.

The intermittently storm-strength westerly winds at high altitudes will transport the snow on Friday night and generate new snowdrift accumulations. Fresh fallen snow and freshly generated snowdrifts will be deposited atop an encrusted old snowpack surface. Bonding is often weak-to-moderate. In addition, on steep shady slopes above 2200 m the layering is frequently weak. The additional loading of the fresh snow and drifts will lead to further tensions. These danger spots are not visible to the naked eye. Mostly shallow snowpacks will be further moistened at intermediate altitudes, thereby forfeiting even more of their firmness. Sunny slopes at intermediate altitudes are becoming bare of snow.

Saturday: summits shrouded iin clouds rainfall in the morning, intensive snowfall in the northern massifs. Intense snowfall in the northern barrier cloud regions. Snowfall level will lie between 1400 and 1700 m. In the afternoon the precipitation will slacken off gradually. It will remain quite windy in the mountains. Temperature at 2000 m: -1 degree. Strong to stormy westerly winds at high altitudes.

On Sunday it will become increasingly sunny. Brisk W/SW winds will bring mild air masses, the zero-degree level will climb to 3000 m. Due to more generation of snowdrifts, the avalanche danger levels will remain considerable at high altitudes. The persistent weak layer on high altitude shady slopes will stay with us.